NBA Free Agent Rankings
For the summer of 2006:
2006 NBA Free Agent Centers:
1) Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons -- Big Ben wants to stay with Detroit, and Detroit wants to keep him. InsideHoops.com places the odds on him staying at 99 percent likely.
2) Nene, Denver Nuggets -- Perhaps a power forward, but we'll call him a center. Nene missed the 2005-06 season due to injury, and the Nuggets missed him. But if he seeks a star's payday, Denver will probably let him go get overpaid elsewhere.
3) Joel Przybilla, Portland Trail Blazers -- The Blazers are a mess, and big Joel probably wants out. He's a decent big guy. Not a star, but he wouldn't be the league's worst starting center.
4) Nazr Mohammed, San Antonio Spurs -- Ideally brought off the bench, but decent enough to start for a team that has tons of stars at other positions.
5) Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat -- Zo is better than everyone above not named Ben Wallace, but he's ranked down here due to his age and health issue, the former of which should catch up with him any season now. He could go anywhere, or stay. It's a tossup.
2006 NBA Free Agent Power Forwards:
1) Al Harrington, Atlanta Hawks -- Puts up extremely nice numbers, but he's not a star to build a team around. Harrington is a tweener, but we'll call him a PF instead of SF. It's very likely he's gone from Atlanta.
2) 2) Chris Wilcox, Seattle Sonics (restricted) -- Went from a bench player with athletic ability as a Clipper to one of the league's brightest young power forwards in Seattle, thanks to a mid-season trade. If he's not too greedy, will get a nice chunk of change from Seattle.
3) Vladimir Radmanovic, Los Angeles Clippers -- Turned down a pretty sizable contract from the Sonics a year ago, wound up getting traded (in the Wilcox deal) to the Clippers, and has done pretty well. He's a small forward in a power forward's body. He probably wants more money than the Clippers would want to pay.
4) Drew Gooden, Cleveland Cavaliers (restricted) -- It's not likely that anyone will throw sizable money at him, so chances are Drew stays another season with the Cavs and becomes unrestricted a year later.
5) Keith Van Horn, Dallas Mavericks -- Doesn't get much publicity in Dallas behind the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, but Keith can still play and can put up big points and acceptable rebounds if given the time.
2006 NBA Free Agent Small Forwards:
1) Peja Stojakovic, Indiana Pacers (Can opt out) -- Stojakovic can opt out of his contract to become a free agent, and recently said he probably will do so. He's making over $8 million this season and InsideHoops.com sources in the GM world don't think he'll get much more than that from anyone. Chances are he winds up staying with the Pacers.
2) Tim Thomas, Phoenix Suns -- Played pretty well in Phoenix and although he'll never reach the potential many thought he had years ago, Tim is a player and can probably get a deal as a poor man's starter or rich man's backup.
3) Rasual Butler, NOK Hornets -- Not as well known as the league's other Butler (Caron), but Rasual plays well on both ends of the floor and can pretty much do everything. Likely to get the kind of deal we described Tim Thomas might (see above).
4) Qyntel Woods, New York Knicks -- Woods has shown himself to be a real player when given minutes with NY this season. He's extremely athletic and has more potential than many realize. No one will offer him starter money, but he should get a legit contract from someone.
5) Devean George, Los Angeles Lakers -- Worth signing as a backup small forward.
2006 NBA Free Agent Shooting Guards:
1) Bonzi Wells, Sacramento Kings -- Although Wells missed time due to injury, his 2005-06 season has been terrific. He's played very good ball. Could stay, but the Kings have Kevin Martin to handle the shooting guard spot if he gets bigger money elsewhere.
2) Flip Murray, Cleveland Cavaliers -- A decent scorer who can handle the starting job but is likely best used as a team's main scorer off the bench.
2006 NBA Free Agent Point Guards:
1) Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks -- JT wants to stay with the Mavs, and Dallas wants to keep him. As long as Terry doesn't get greedy and stays reasonable, he'll be paid properly like a pretty good starter should.
2) Mike James, Toronto Raptors (can opt out) -- James has been on a mission this season to show he's a real player, and he pretty much succeeded. A scoring point guard, he's over 30 and hoping to finally get one nice, fat contract from any team in the league; though Mike would prefer a winner.
3) Sam Cassell, Los Angeles Clippers -- The old fella still plays great basketball and hasn't slowed down. But we bet people still underestimate his value because of his age. If the Clippers are smart, they'll keep him.
4) Marcus Banks, Minnesota Timberwolves -- The Celtics gave up on him and traded him to the Timberwolves, and although the team doesn't win often, Banks has been a bright spot. He has probably earned a contract as a poor man's starter or rich man's backup. Might stay.
5) Speedy Claxton, NOK Hornets -- Used more as a scorer than a point guard off the Hornets bench, but a decent player who probably doesn't want to be stuck behind Chris Paul forever and therefore might change teams.
Other Notables for 2006 NBA Free Agency:
Francisco Elson (Denver-restricted), Reggie Evans (Denver), DerMarr Johnson (Denver), Bobby Jackson (Memphis), Trevor Ariza (Orlando-restricted), David Wesley (Houston), Michael Olowokandi (Boston), DJ MBenga (Dallas-restricted), John Salmons (Philadelphia-restricted), Latrell Sprewell.
copied from spurstalk.com
For the summer of 2006:
2006 NBA Free Agent Centers:
1) Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons -- Big Ben wants to stay with Detroit, and Detroit wants to keep him. InsideHoops.com places the odds on him staying at 99 percent likely.
2) Nene, Denver Nuggets -- Perhaps a power forward, but we'll call him a center. Nene missed the 2005-06 season due to injury, and the Nuggets missed him. But if he seeks a star's payday, Denver will probably let him go get overpaid elsewhere.
3) Joel Przybilla, Portland Trail Blazers -- The Blazers are a mess, and big Joel probably wants out. He's a decent big guy. Not a star, but he wouldn't be the league's worst starting center.
4) Nazr Mohammed, San Antonio Spurs -- Ideally brought off the bench, but decent enough to start for a team that has tons of stars at other positions.
5) Alonzo Mourning, Miami Heat -- Zo is better than everyone above not named Ben Wallace, but he's ranked down here due to his age and health issue, the former of which should catch up with him any season now. He could go anywhere, or stay. It's a tossup.
2006 NBA Free Agent Power Forwards:
1) Al Harrington, Atlanta Hawks -- Puts up extremely nice numbers, but he's not a star to build a team around. Harrington is a tweener, but we'll call him a PF instead of SF. It's very likely he's gone from Atlanta.
2) 2) Chris Wilcox, Seattle Sonics (restricted) -- Went from a bench player with athletic ability as a Clipper to one of the league's brightest young power forwards in Seattle, thanks to a mid-season trade. If he's not too greedy, will get a nice chunk of change from Seattle.
3) Vladimir Radmanovic, Los Angeles Clippers -- Turned down a pretty sizable contract from the Sonics a year ago, wound up getting traded (in the Wilcox deal) to the Clippers, and has done pretty well. He's a small forward in a power forward's body. He probably wants more money than the Clippers would want to pay.
4) Drew Gooden, Cleveland Cavaliers (restricted) -- It's not likely that anyone will throw sizable money at him, so chances are Drew stays another season with the Cavs and becomes unrestricted a year later.
5) Keith Van Horn, Dallas Mavericks -- Doesn't get much publicity in Dallas behind the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, but Keith can still play and can put up big points and acceptable rebounds if given the time.
2006 NBA Free Agent Small Forwards:
1) Peja Stojakovic, Indiana Pacers (Can opt out) -- Stojakovic can opt out of his contract to become a free agent, and recently said he probably will do so. He's making over $8 million this season and InsideHoops.com sources in the GM world don't think he'll get much more than that from anyone. Chances are he winds up staying with the Pacers.
2) Tim Thomas, Phoenix Suns -- Played pretty well in Phoenix and although he'll never reach the potential many thought he had years ago, Tim is a player and can probably get a deal as a poor man's starter or rich man's backup.
3) Rasual Butler, NOK Hornets -- Not as well known as the league's other Butler (Caron), but Rasual plays well on both ends of the floor and can pretty much do everything. Likely to get the kind of deal we described Tim Thomas might (see above).
4) Qyntel Woods, New York Knicks -- Woods has shown himself to be a real player when given minutes with NY this season. He's extremely athletic and has more potential than many realize. No one will offer him starter money, but he should get a legit contract from someone.
5) Devean George, Los Angeles Lakers -- Worth signing as a backup small forward.
2006 NBA Free Agent Shooting Guards:
1) Bonzi Wells, Sacramento Kings -- Although Wells missed time due to injury, his 2005-06 season has been terrific. He's played very good ball. Could stay, but the Kings have Kevin Martin to handle the shooting guard spot if he gets bigger money elsewhere.
2) Flip Murray, Cleveland Cavaliers -- A decent scorer who can handle the starting job but is likely best used as a team's main scorer off the bench.
2006 NBA Free Agent Point Guards:
1) Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks -- JT wants to stay with the Mavs, and Dallas wants to keep him. As long as Terry doesn't get greedy and stays reasonable, he'll be paid properly like a pretty good starter should.
2) Mike James, Toronto Raptors (can opt out) -- James has been on a mission this season to show he's a real player, and he pretty much succeeded. A scoring point guard, he's over 30 and hoping to finally get one nice, fat contract from any team in the league; though Mike would prefer a winner.
3) Sam Cassell, Los Angeles Clippers -- The old fella still plays great basketball and hasn't slowed down. But we bet people still underestimate his value because of his age. If the Clippers are smart, they'll keep him.
4) Marcus Banks, Minnesota Timberwolves -- The Celtics gave up on him and traded him to the Timberwolves, and although the team doesn't win often, Banks has been a bright spot. He has probably earned a contract as a poor man's starter or rich man's backup. Might stay.
5) Speedy Claxton, NOK Hornets -- Used more as a scorer than a point guard off the Hornets bench, but a decent player who probably doesn't want to be stuck behind Chris Paul forever and therefore might change teams.
Other Notables for 2006 NBA Free Agency:
Francisco Elson (Denver-restricted), Reggie Evans (Denver), DerMarr Johnson (Denver), Bobby Jackson (Memphis), Trevor Ariza (Orlando-restricted), David Wesley (Houston), Michael Olowokandi (Boston), DJ MBenga (Dallas-restricted), John Salmons (Philadelphia-restricted), Latrell Sprewell.
copied from spurstalk.com
